Pneumatic-despatch apparatus.



T. BEMIS. PNBUMATIO DESPATGH APPARATUS. APPLIGATION FILED MAY 28, 190B. BENBWBD 00T. 28, 1912. 1,048,931

Patented Dac. 31, 1912.

A amv IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNE Y.

Thnryus Bemis.

WITNESSES .d 9 977v j COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C0 wASHINuroN. n. c.

T. B EMIS. PNEUMATIG DESPATGH APPARATUS.

' APPLICATION FILED MAY 28, 1908.. BENBWED 00T. 28, 1912.` 1,048,93 1 vPatntea Dee. 31, 1912.

, NVENTOR.

ThomGS erm 5.

' A TTORNE Y.

WITNEssEs.- d

"UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS BEMIS, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO AMERICAN PNEUMATIC SERVICE COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A

CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

PN EUMATIC-DESPATCH APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS BEMIS, of Indianapolis, county of Marion, and State of Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful Pneumatic-Despatch Apparatus; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which like letters refer to like parts.

The object of this invention is to improve the construction of pneumatic despatch apparatus, so as to reduce the expense of operating the same by saving the power. Herein this object is accomplished by limiting the operation of the pneumatic appa- .i'atus in the system to the portion in actual use and to the time when in use. This invention is for an improved means to accomplish said object.

One feature of the invention is the compact form of the construction for accomplishing the object desired, there being provided a cylinder and piston preferably parallel with and adjacent to the carrier inlet terminal and a valve for closing said terminal that is pivoted in connection therewith and is closed by said piston. The piston is actuated by gravity and is returned by the suction in the despatch apparatus. Means is provided for regulating the partial vacuum for retarding the actuating movement of the piston in order to time the closing of the valve thereby so as to give the carrier sufficient time to reach its destination.

Another feature of the invention consists in providing means for partially returning the valve closing means while and immediately after the valve has been closed, whereby said valve closing means will be in position for immediate action and much time be saved in the operation of the device as the valve closing mechanism has made almost its entire return movement while the valve is closed. As soon as the valve is opened it makes a very slight further return movement instead of having to make the entire return movement before it starts on its actuating movement.

Another feature of the invention consists in combining with the valve closing means a'paddle or the like that is controlled by the current of air passing through the terminal Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 28, 1908, Serial No. 435,414. Renewed October 28, 1912.

Patented Dec. 31, 1912.

serial No. 728,247.

for opening the port into the cylinder of the valve closing means in order to cause the latter to make almost a complete return movement after the main valve has been closed.

The full nature of this invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a central vertical section through a carrier and air inlet at the central station, with its associated parts, the parts being sho-wn in their position when the terminal is closed. the same showing the parts in the position immediately after the inlet valve is opened to receive the carrier. Fig. 8 is the same .showing the parts in the position at the end of the closing movement of the inlet valve, the open position of said valve and operated position of the hand lever being shown by dotted lines. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 8. Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a perspctive view of the lower end of the piston ro Tn detail 10 represents a carrier and air inlet terminal at the central station of a pneumatic despatch apparatus. It is provided with a flaring mouth 11 secured to the end of the terminal by clamping or other suitable means, so that the transverse area of the mouth 11 is greater than that of the main portion of the terminal 10. From the mouth piece 11 there is a projection 12 to which the shank 13 of the valve 14 is fulcrumed at 15 and said valve is partially counter-balanced by the weight 16 and is provided with a finger hoo-k 17 for opening the valve, by striking the finger or a carrier downwardly against it, when it is desired to insert a carrier in the terminal, for, when the valve 14 closes the mouth of the terminal, suction will tend to keep said valve in closed position, but the effect cf this suction is destroyed by knocking down the valve from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2.

Adjacent to and preferably parallel with the inlet terminal 10 there is a cylinder 20 secured at the lower end by clamps 21 and aty the upper end to a clamping frame 22. The lower end of the cylinder 20 is open rig. 2 is,

while the upper end is closed by a chamber Q3 in a casting or part of the frame 22 and there is a suction port 24 leading from the chamber Q3 into a chamber 25 and a port leading` from the chamber 25 to a suction tube 2l" that is carried by the clalnp 2S connected with the traine and is in comnuinicaticn with the despatch system so that there is a constant suction through said pipe 2 and the ellect ot that.7 when the port 2l is opened is to elevate the piston B2 'in the cylinder 20 and which is mounted on the rod 31. rllhe piston rod 31 has also a `guide trame 80 on its upper end and at its lower end is provided with a vertically slotted portion through which a pin Sil trom the shank 13 extends. The loop 33 has a butler 35 in its lower end tor engaging the pin 534-. The port Qt that effects a communication between the suction tube 27 and the cylinder 20 is controlled by the suction valve il0 on the vertical stem 11 that is guided by two parts or walls o'l' the traine 22. The valve 4t0 is closed by the pin 113 in the sliding` guide trame 30 that is spring supported by the spring etai. as the piston reaches its highest position.

The valve 110 is opened by the paddle 50 which is tulcrumed at 51 in the recessed attachment to the terminah said attachment boinav part ot the frame 22. rthe paddle .'70 so mounted that it will normally drop downwz rdly by gravity into the position shown in Fien 1 and into the terminal when there is no air current passing' through said terminal. llVhen, howovta'9 the valve 1-1 is opened for any purpose and an air current sets in through the terminal 10 the paddle 50 will be moved by the current out oit the terminal into the recess 52 and into the vertical position. The paddle 50 has a projection adapted to engage one end of the lever that is itulcrunied at 55 between its ends. the other end ot said lever heariina` downwardly on arm 60 on the stem l1 ot the valve 41:0. Therefore. when the paddle 50 drops down by gravity into the position shown in la 1, the projection thereot will, through the lever 5st open the valve t0 as shown in 1. But when the air current sets in through the terminal, the paddle 50 will be elevated and thus leave the stein Li1 lree so that the valve may be closed by the piu Vl-3 or otherwise.

'llo the extension 12 trom the mouth-piece 11 a hand lever 60 is tulerumed at G1 and is provided with an arm 69 that is conneeted with the vertical rod 63 passing` through the guiding1 extension 6st from the mouth piece and also through a part oit the trame 22 at the upper end. @n its lower end there is a spring` 05 mounted that tends normally to hold said rod 63 in its upper position. The upper end ot said rod 63 passes loosely through the arm 66 secured to the valve stem 41 and has on its upper end a head G7 so arranged that when the rod 623 is drawn downwardly by the lever G0 the valve stem 41 will be depressed and the valve l-O opened. But when the lever 00 is released the spring G5 will hold it in its upper position where it leaves the valve stem t1 tree to be manipulated.

The operation of the device is as follows: Assuming that there is a suction pump or other means for evhausting` the air trom the apparatus and creating and maintaining` suction therein and the parts are in the position shown in Fin'. 1, when the operator at the central station desires to send a carrier she strikes down on the projection 1'? from the valve 14 which opens the inlet terminal and enables her to insert the carrier. rlhe valve 1:1 and associated parts then assume the position shown in Fig. Q. as the mouth of the inlet is opened the inrush of air moves the paddle 50 out ot the terminal into the recess 52, whereby the passage ot the carrier will not be intern rupted and the valve stem -l1 and valve t0 b-e lei't tree. rlhen suction through the tube 2T which is normally maintained further elevates the piston rod 31 and loop to the position shown in Fig. 2 whereupon the pin 13 closes the valve 4110. That leaves the sliding guide trame 30 and piston 3Q and piston rod 31 in condition to descend slowly by `gravity. The descendingoi these partsl is retarded by the partial vacuum in the upper part of the cylinder 20 above the piston 32. As the air leaks into said cham.- ber 23, tlirough the small port 123 con* trolled by valve 124 said parts descend until they approach the position shown in Fig. 3, whereupon the upper part oit the loop 33 engages the pin let oit the shank of the valve 1.4L and gradually closes said valve in the latter part of the movement oit the piston and piston rod when the parts reach the position shown in Fig'. 3. ,As soon as tho valve 14 is closed, there is no passage ot air through the inlet terminal whereupon the paddle 50 drops by gravity to the position shown in Fig. 1, which through the intermediate means explained. opens the valve 4 0 that -permits suction through the tube 27 to act on the piston 32 and elevate the piston and piston rod from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in F 1. Said piston, piston rod and loop are stopped sho-rt ot their highest limit oit movementy in order to leave the valve 40 open. by the resistance to the further upward movement of the piston .rod 31 due to the engagement of the pin 34 on the valve shank 13 with the lower end ot the loop on piston rod 31. rlhis slight resistance to the further upward movement of the loop and piston is sutlicient to prevent the piston reaching its highest limit of movement, because the transverse area of the mouth of the inlet is greater' than that of the piston so that the suction o'. the valve let will be proportionately greater than the pull on the piston 32 through the suction tube 27. That enables the valve 14 through its shank 18 and pin fle to hold the piston short of its complete upward movement and in the position shown in F l.

F rom the foregoing it is seen that the carrier will have time to reach its destination while the piston 32 is descending and before it causes in the latter part of its movement the closing of the valve le or can be adjusted to do so by valve 124. If the operator wishes to send a second carrier before the valve let closes, she resets the timing mechanism. This returns the piston 32 to its upper position by depressing the hand lever GO. This through the rod 63 opens the valve 4&0 and thesuction through the tube 27 will return and elevate the piston 32 before the loop 33 has closed the valve le and when the piston reaches its uppermost position and the pin i3 closes the valve 40 and terminates the suction, the piston will descend again by gravity as explained before. After the main valve l-l is closed each time the paddle 50 opens the port 2e so that suction elevates the piston 32 and returns the piston and piston rod almost to their upper limit of movement. That leaves the piston rod in position to begin the actuating movement after a slight further upward movement sutlicient to close the valve 40.

lf a clerk inserts a carrier at an outlying station to be sent to the central station and at the time the valve le is closed, the opening of the valve at the outlying station will terminate the suction in the despatch tube and terminal at the central station so that the valve le at the central station will drop open. And since the valve e0 is at the time in an open position, the suction will elevate the piston and cause a return movement of the valve closing means and thus permit the carrier inserted at the outlying station to reach the central station before the valve le closes. lf a clerk at the outlying stat-ion inserts a carrier while the valve le is open, the passage of air through the terminal at the central station temporarily ceases and then the paddle 50 drops to its open position, as shown in Fig. l, by gravity and causes the valve e() to open and again the piston is drawn upwardly and makes a complete return movementI closing valve e0, thus giving' time for the carrier inserted at the outlying' station to reach the central station. ln the latter case, as soon as the carrier is inserted at the outlying' station after the valve there closes, the current passes through the central station of the terminal and moves the paddle 50 to the position shown in Fig. 2.

that I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. Pneumatic despatch apparatus including an air inlet terminal, a valve for closing the same, means for closing' said valve and then partially ret-urning' and afterward completing' the returning movement and opening the valve, means for partially returning the valve closing' means from the limit of its valve closing movement immediately afte and while the valve is closed, and means for preventing the complete return movement of said valve closing means, substantially as set forth.

2. Pneumatic despatch apparatus including an air inlet terminal, a valve for closing the same, gravity actuated means for closing said valve and then partially returning` and afterward completing the returning movement and opening the valve, means for retarding' the actuating' movement of said valve closing means whereby the closing of the valve will be timed, means for partially returning' the valve closing' means from the limit of its valve closing movement while the valve is closed, and means for preventing the complete return movement of said valve closing means.

3. Pneumatic despatch apparatus including a carrier and air inlet terminal, a valve for closing the same, gravity actuated means for closing' said valve and then partially returning and afterward completing the returning' movement and opening the valve, means for retarding the actuating movement of said gravity means, whereby the closing of the valve will be timed, means controlled by the air pressure in the apparat-us for partially returning said valve closing means from the limit of its valve closing movement, and means for pre-venting the complete return movement of said falve closing means.

-l-. Pneumatic despatch apparatus including an air inlet terminal, a valve for closing the same, a cylinder in communication with the despatch apparatus, a piston therein, a piston rod in such connection with the valve as to close the valve in the latter part of the actuating movement of said piston rod and then partially returning and afterward completing the returning movement and opening the valve, means for partially returning` said piston from the limit of its valve closing movement after and while the valve is closed, and means for preventing the complete ret-urn movement of said piston.

5. Pneumatic despatch apparatus including a vertically disposed inlet terminal, a valve pivoted in connection therewith for closing the same that when released by suction will remain open by gravity, a cylinder lla? in connnunication with the despatch apparatus, a piston in said cylinder, a piston rod connected therewith that is operably connected with said valve so that the piston and piston rod will descend by gravity and close the valve, and means for exhausting air from said cylinder above the piston so the suction will return the piston and piston rod to their inoperative positions while the valve is closed.

t3. Pneumatic despatch apparatus including' an inlet terminal, a valve mounted in connection therewith that is provided with a shank, a cylinder in communication with the despatch apparatus, a piston therein, a gravity piston rod in operative engagement with the shank of said valve so that it will not act upon said valve excepting in the latter part of the movement of said piston rod, and means for exhausting` air from the cylinder above the piston for returning the same.

'l'. Pneumatic despatch apparatus includ- 'the same, a cylinder in communicationwith the despatch apparatus, a piston therein, a piston rod in such connection with the valve as to close the valve in the latter part of the actuating` movement of said piston rod and then partially returning and afterward complotting` the returning movement and opening' the valve, means for partially ret-urning' said piston from the limit of its valve closing movement after and while the valve is closed, and means controlled by said valve for preventing' the complete return movementof said valve closing means while the valve is closed.

Pneumatic despatch apparatus including an air inlet terminal, a valve for closing4 the same, means for closing said valve and then partially returning,- and afterward completing the returning movement and opening the valve, means for partially returning the valve closing means immediately after and while the valve is closed, means for preventing the complete ret-urn movement of said valve closing,1 means from the limit of its valve closing movement, and means for causing the complete return of the valve clot-jingmeans when the valve is opened`r substantially as set forth.

9. Pneumatic despatch apparatus including an air inlet terminal, a valve for closinn' the same, a cylinder in communication with the despatch apparatus, a pistou therein, a piston rod in such connection with the valve as to close the valve in the lat-ter part of the actuating movement of said piston rod and then partially returning and afterward completing the returning movement and opening the valve, means for partially returning said piston from the limit of its valve closing` movement after and while the valve is closed, means for preing an air inlet terminal, a valve for closing;v

intensi venting the complete return movement of said piston, and means controlled by the opening of the valve for permitting said piston to complete its return movement.

l0. Pneumatic despatch apparatus including an air inlet terminal, a valve for closing` the same, a cylinder in communication with the despatch apparatus, a piston therein, a piston rod in such connection with the valve as to close the valve in the latter part of the actuating movement of said piston rod and then partially returning and afterward completing the returning movement and opening the valve, means for partially returning` said piston from the limit of its valve closing movement after and while the valve is closed, means for preventing the complete return movement of said piston, means controlled by the closing of the valve for opening,- the communication between said cylinder and the despatch apparatus. means controlled by the opening of the valve for permitting said piston to complete its return movement., and means on the piston rod for closingsaid communication at the end of the complete return movement of said piston.

11. Pneumatic despatch apparatus 'including an air inlet terminal, a main valve for closing the same, a cylinder with a port in communication with the despatch apparatus whereby the suction in the apparatus will act upon the piston in said cylinder, a suction valve for closing said port, a piston in said cylinder for closing` said valve, a piston rod in such connection with the main valve as to close it in the latter part of the actuating movement of said piston rod, and a paddle mounted in the carrier passageway of the despatch tube that will be actuated by gravity when there is no current of air passing therethrough for opening said suction valve and causing the piston to return.

l2. Pneumatic despatch apparatus including' an air inlet terminal, a valve for closing; the same, means for closing` said valve and thenpartially returning' and afterward completingl the returning movementand opening' the valve, means for partially returnine; the valve Closing' means from. the limit of its valve closing' movement immediately after and while the valve is closed, and means connected with said valve for stopping;4 the return movement of said valve closine; means before it is completed, substantially as set forth.

13. Pneumatic despatch apparatus including' an inlet terminal, a valve -mounted in connection therewith that is provided with a shank, a cylinder in communication with the despatch apparatus, a piston therein, a piston rod in operative engagement with the shank of said valve so that it will not act upon said valve excepting in the latter part of the movement of said piston rod and then partially returning and afterward completing the returning movement and opening the valve, and means controlled by the current of air passing through said apparatus for causing the partial return movement of said piston from the limit of its valve closing movement, said valve being adapted to stop the return movement of said piston before it is completed, substantially as set forth.

14. Pneumatic despatch apparatus includ- `ing an inlet terminal, a valve mounted in connection therewith, a cylinder in communication with the despatch apparatus, a piston therein that is of less diameter than the mouth of the inlet terminal, a piston rod with its outer end in operative engagement with said valve so that said piston rod will not act upon said valve excepting in the latter part of the movement of said piston rod and then partially returning and afterward completing the returning movement and opening the valve, and means controlled by the current of air passing through said apparatus for causing the partial return movement of said piston from the limit of its valve closing movement, said valve being adapted to stop the return movement of said piston before it is completed, substantially as set forth.

15. Pneumatic despatch apparatus including an air inlet terminal, a valve for closing the same, means for closing said valve and then partially returning and afterward completing the returning movement and opening the valve, and means for partially returning the valve closing means from the limit of its valve closing movement immediately after and while the valve is closed,

substantially as set forth.

16. Pneumatic despatch apparatus including a carrier inlet terminal, a main valve for closing the same, a cylinder with a port in communication with the despatch apparatus whereby the suction in the apparatus will act upon the piston in said cylinder, a suction valve for closing said port, a piston in said cylinder with a piston rod in such connection with the' main valve as to close it in the actuating movement of said piston rod, a lever mounted in connection with the terminal adapted to be operated by the operator, a rod actuated by said lever, and an arm drawn downwardly by said rod for opening said suction valve, whereby the piston may be caused to return after the beginning of this actuating movement.

17. Pneumatic despatch apparatus including an air inlet terminal, a main valve for closing it, a cylinder with a port in communication with the despatch apparatus whereby the suction in the apparatus will act upon the piston in the cylinder, a suction valve for closing said port having an upwardly extending stem, a piston in said cylinder with a posten rod in such connect-ion with the main valve as to close it in the actuating movement of said piston rod, an arm secured on the stem of said suction valve, a lever pivoted between its ends with one end bearing upon said arm, and a paddle mounted in connection with the terminal that is pivoted between its ends so that one end will actuate said lever to open said suction valve when the other end of said paddle drops by gravity into the passageway of the terminal.

In wit-ness wherof, I have hereunto aiiixed my signature in the presence of the witnesses herein named.

THOMAS BEMS.

Witnesses: O. GREENER, J. H. SWAN.

-Copes of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents,

Washington, D. C. 

